The Russia-Ukraine war rages on.

* Ukranian authorities have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Mariupol, which has been encircled by Russian forces and cut off from deliveries of food and medicine.

* Repeated attempts to bring in food and evacuate civilians from Mariupol have been cancelled due to relentless Russian fire, while Moscow accuses the Ukrainians of violating cease-fires. Mariupol's mayor says the 12 day assault has killed over 1,500 people.

* The Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey says a group of 86 Turkish nationals, including 34 children, are among those sheltering in a mosque in Mariupol.

* Elsewhere, Zelensky said the mayor of the city of Melitopol, west of Mariupol and near Crimea, was kidnapped, equating it to the action of ISIS terrorists. "They have transitioned into a new stage of terror, in which they try to physically liquidate representatives of Ukraine's lawful local authorities", Zelensky said in an overnight video address.

* Ukraine's emergency services reported that bodies of 5 people were pulled from an apartment building that was struck by shelling in Kharkiv.

* The strikes in western Ukraine, on Ivano-Franklivsk and Lutsk, were confirmed by Russia , which said it used long-range weapons to put military airfields in the two cities out of action.

* Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, demanding an immediate ceasefire.

* Ukraine has reported to the IAEA that its technicians have begun repairing damaged power lines at the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant in an effort to restore power supplies.

* And concern grows over traffickers targeting Ukrainian refugees.

My take.

* The UN has been unable to pass even a single resolution because of the Russian veto. The US and and other western nations have heaped a lot of sanctions on Russia. The western media has been going berserk with fake news galore. 

* And the Russians seem to be bashing on regardless to take over Kyev!

Tailpiece.

Got up half an hour later than usual, the chores and was ready by 10.

A quiet Sunday as the outside temperature soared to 39 degrees!

Helped Lekha in watering the plants. Our Labernum has shown signs of blooming with two sprouts of the golden yellow flower. Phew!